By Grego Applegate Edwards - Cadence Magazine and the Gapplegate Music Blog

CIMP's new live CIMPOL series gets off to a good start with this, one of the first releases. The recording captures in CIMP fashion the excitement of a live club date and it brings together the under-recorded David Bond with Washington D.C.'s prolific and lucid tenorman Andrew White. The combination works well. The two voices each bear distinction and give contrast to what could have been a standard blowing session. The rhythm section of Butta, White's long time associate Novosel, and Gray add fire and in-the-moment inspiration to the set.

A slightly Mingus-suggestive minor line, the opening "Early Show," begins the proceedings with some real swinging. As is the case, happily, for much of this date, they immediately launch into hard-edged collective sax blowing. David's alto sounds distinctly contrasting to the post-Trane Andrew White tenor, which gives everything dimension. I hear in David's playing a touch of modern McLean, Arthur Blythe, and perhaps a smidgen of Jimmy Lyons, which is only to say that he stems from a noble lineage of greats. David and Andrew get a hard swinging collective froth brewing that is a harbinger of things to come.

"Rock Out" comes out of the Funky tradition with good energy and a harmonized alto-tenor sax line. It's all soulful without the least bit of slickness or vapidity. Bond and White again lock into a simpatico two-way dialogue.

With a bass line feel like "Africa," Tyner like voicings, and drums with mallets, the stage is set on "Coltrane" for the horns' entrance. White and Bond respond with a labyrinthine wash of simultaneous modal improvisation. They climb the stratosphere while remaining in the key center. Andrew gets a full flush inspiration. He takes it out with overblown harmonics and upper register squeals, showing himself at his best.

"Dew Drops / Lyons" has a lyrical quality and is quite an appealing listen. Then there is the final "Sun Ra Swing," an interplanetary set of themes with simultaneous solos on tenor and, this time, David on soprano. He does not sound quite as assured on the instrument as on the alto, but they get a bluesy swing going regardless. Bond's soprano has a thicker sound on this instrument that the norm and that does place him away from the pack.

The Early Show has all the excitement of an inspired live set, recorded impeccably and imparting an infectious enthusiasm. That surely is a sign that great Jazz is being made. Both Andrew White and David Bond were on a roll that night! Highly recommended.